The San Jose Sharks returned to action following the NHL’s Christmas break to face off against their Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles had just beat San Jose 4-1 on December 19th, and improved their total with a 5-1 win this time around. Following tonight’s loss, San Jose fell to 9-23-3 overall. While some were worried that San Jose’s miraculous string of wins in early December would cost them the best odds at tanking, the team has nosedived enough to earn its place at the very bottom of the league once again.
Kähkonen’s game within the game
The Sharks, despite their woeful record, have been propelled by some excellent goaltending performances through the first leg of the season. In his two prior starts, Kähkonen stopped 35 of 38 and 23 of 24, keeping the Sharks within reach. At near the end of December, the goaltender has a winning record of 3-2-0 with a .914 save percentage overall for the month. Last night, again in Los Angeles, Kähkonen made remarkable stops to keep the Sharks in the lead and then to keep them from being completely embarrassed. Yet, one sloppy moment in a key shift of the game seemed to be the only dagger the Kings needed.
This is not to fault the loss on Kähkonen at all. He has done more than enough for the team this season to warrant his share of praise, and it is worth taking the time to commend how he has adjusted his game to improve on a disappointing 2022-23 season. But in the shift immediately after Kevin Fiala’s game-tying goal on the breakaway, the Sharks looked fragile, and Kähkonen couldn’t bail them out. A puck was chipped in, the Sharks had two defenders back as Kähkonen moved behind the net to play it aside. The Kings forechecker came on strong and caught the Sharks, including their goaltender, playing a little too casual with the puck in a dangerous area. The subsequent goal proved to be a pivotal moment in the game. It’s a shame as well because the Sharks goaltender put on quite the performance the other 59 minutes and some 50 seconds. A 60-minute game has to be broken up into smaller bits to make it manageable. Some goaltenders frame it one period at a time, maybe one shift or whistle at a time for others. All these help to channel focus into highly concentrated bits and avoid burnout or the loss of focus.
As important a moment that was, the Sharks had more than half the game left to tie it and change the momentum – but they couldn’t. Against a team like the Kings, there is very little room for error. Unfortunately for Kähkonen, he has to be nearly perfect for the Sharks to have a chance.
Kings get away with speeding
The biggest issue of the night was San Jose’s puck management. They could not keep up with Los Angeles’ speed on the puck, pressuring the puck carrier as soon as they touched it. The Sharks had rare moments of full puck possession, usually when Tomaš Hertl could patiently hold it while in a strong stride, but mostly lost pucks almost as soon as they got them.
The Kings are a fast team because they play with pace as a five-person unit. It’s not just about the individual speed of players who score off the rush like Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe, but about their cohesive movements when without the puck. They leave such little room to work with because their bodies and sticks are always forcing pressure on the puck carrier. In addition to having an excellent team work ethic and commitment to system, a team needs a substantial amount of talent to break through this pressure on a consistent basis. San Jose has two more games against Los Angeles this season, but it’s hard to see how they will be able to adjust their game enough to change the dynamic against the Kings, especially if they lose more current roster pieces nearing the trade deadline.
Zetterlund showing resolve
There has perhaps been no better surprise this season for San Jose than Fabian Zetterlund, who scored the lone, unassisted goal last night. Zetterlund continues to find ways to contribute offensively and is now on a three-game point streak. He is on pace for at least 20 goals this year, all after he went completely goalless after joining the Sharks for 22 games last season. With his combination of size, skill, and speed, Zetterlund has the tools to be an effective secondary scorer for years to come. There is an element of stoicism thanks to his strength and build. It may be a stretch, but I imagine him as a Ryan Clowe-type who’s more focused on speed and scoring than hitting and playmaking. His impact on the forward group should not be overlooked.
Highlight
This incredible flash of the leather came when the game was essentially over, but Kähkonen showed his mental fortitude to remain focused no matter the score. Check out this show-stopping save:
With Mackenzie Blackwood’s health in question, Kähkonen may be back in the crease tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. Whether it’s him, Blackwood, or rookie goaltender Magnus Chrona, let’s hope the Sharks goalies get more goal support at the very least.
The Sharks game against the Oilers will be at 7:30 PM at SAP Center, Dec. 29.
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